Key Points
- Russia fired its largest aerial barrage yet at Ukraine over the weekend.
- Four people were killed and government buildings set ablaze.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned the attack would prolong the war.
The latest Russian strikes in the war in Ukraine could signal that the conflict is far from over, as world leaders meet to discuss peace talks.
Russia fired its biggest-ever aerial barrage at Ukraine at the weekend, killing four people and setting government offices in Kyiv ablaze, an attack Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned would prolong the war.
Russia fired at least 810 drones and 13 missiles at Ukraine in a new record, according to the Ukrainian air force.
While the strike is significant, it pales compared to the "sheer scale of Russia's onslaught" over the past three years, Dr Alasdair McCallum, a politics expert from Monash University, told SBS News.
What does this mean for a ceasefire?
The strike on Kyiv is less about causing damage, but more a signal from Russian President Vladimir Putin towards the West, according to McCallum.
"It shows that Russia and, in particular, Putin are not actually serious about any kind of peace or a ceasefire," he said.
"Russia is acting not in good faith and is not actually committed to any kind of good faith negotiation agreements about ending the war."
The latest barrage followed a meeting between Putin and United States President Donald Trump in Alaska, which McCallum described as Trump being "accommodating and appeasing" towards Russia.
But that attitude could change.
"We've seen Trump's decisions fluctuate a lot, and he often thinks in terms of personality rather than strategic considerations," McCallum said.
"He is now considering additional sanctions on countries that deal with Russia, in particular in oil, which could largely impact India and China."
Russia could continue to 'escalate'
Russia has intensified its onslaught against Ukraine since the latest meeting between Trump and Putin failed to make any breakthrough on a ceasefire.
McCallum said that Ukrainian intelligence indicates that Russia has the capacity to produce 2,700 drones per month and would likely continue to escalate its attacks on Ukraine.
The ongoing invasion could even continue should Europe send ground troops to the region.
"Just the other day, [French President] Emmanuel Macron suggested a Western peacekeeping force, as a security assurance, which could be stationed in Ukraine after a ceasefire is agreed," he said.
"But Putin quite belligerently shut that down, saying any troops deployed to Ukraine would be legitimate targets, including Western troops."
Putin has previously publicly praised Trump's efforts to guarantee peace, while rejecting a series of US-brokered proposals.
Trump to speak with European leaders
Trump said on Sunday that individual European leaders would visit the US on Monday or Tuesday to discuss how to resolve the war in Ukraine.
Speaking to reporters in New York City, Trump also said he would speak to Putin soon.
"Certain European leaders are coming over to our country on Monday or Tuesday individually," Trump said.
It was not clear to whom Trump was referring, and the White House did not immediately respond to a request for further details.
Trump added that he was "not happy" about the status of the war, after reporters asked about the massive Russian air assault.
But he again expressed confidence that the war would soon be settled.
"The Russia-Ukraine situation, we're going to get it done."
— additional reporting by Reuters.
